Lighted boat accessory rack

Abstract

A universal boat accessory rack that provides a lighted hitch, a first support, a second support, a cross-bar connecting the first support to the second support, and a plurality of fasteners, which connect the first support and second support to a boat hull. More specifically, the lighted hitch may be attached to one of the supports, and the first support, the second support and the cross-bar are all adjustable in length. Therefore, the boat accessory rack has a light located at the highest point on the boat accessory rack and an adjustable height, width and depth. In addition, the fasteners are capable of being attached in a vertical, horizontal or angular position with respect to the boat hull. In this manner, a boat owner may quickly and easily install the boat accessory rack on boats embodying a number of different sizes and designs.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An accessory rack for a boat having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, comprising: 
       a first support of adjustable height having a first leg and a second leg;  
       a second support of adjustable height having a third leg and a fourth leg;  
       a plural of fasteners for connecting the first leg and the third leg to the first side of the boat and the second leg and the fourth leg to the second side of the boat whereby the first support and the second support each span across a width of the boat defined between the first side of the boat and the second side of the boat;  
       a cross-bar of adjustable length connecting the first support to the second support such that the spacing between the first support and the second support measured along a length of the boat is variable;  
       a tow-rope hitch attached to the top of the second support; and  
       a light located within the tow-rope hitch.  
     
     
       2. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first support is of adjustable width and the second support is of adjustable width. 
     
     
       3. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tow-rope hitch is further comprised of a core, a pivot sleeve that is rotatably attached to the core, and a cap that is attached to the top of the pivot sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the light is located within the cap. 
     
     
       5. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the pivot sleeve comprises a translucent material. 
     
     
       6. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the cap comprises a translucent material. 
     
     
       7. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners provide for the first leg and the third leg to be releasably fastened to the first side and the second leg and the fourth leg to be releasably attached to the second side. 
     
     
       8. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       9. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth legs each comprise a first member in telescoping engagement with a second member. 
     
     
       10. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-bar comprises a first member connected to the first support and a second member connected to the second support, the first member and the second member being adjustably coupled. 
     
     
       11. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first member is threadably coupled to the second member. 
     
     
       12. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first member comprises a first clamp that is slidably attached to the first support and the second member comprises a second clamp that is slidably attached to the second support. 
     
     
       13. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first support comprises a first center section disposed intermediate the first leg and the second leg, the second support comprises a second center section disposed intermediate the third leg and the fourth leg, and a cross-link is welded to the both the first center section and the second center section. 
     
     
       14. The accessory rack as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of quick-release clamps for use in connecting the first leg and the second leg to the first center section and the third leg and the fourth leg to the second center section. 
     
     
       15. A boat, comprising: 
       a boat hull having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and  
       an accessory rack, comprising:  
       a first support of adjustable height having a first leg and a second leg;  
       a second support of adjustable height having a third leg and a fourth leg;  
       a plural of fasteners for connecting the first leg and the third leg to the first side of the boat hull and the second leg and the fourth leg to the second side of the boat hull whereby the first support and the second support each span across a width of the boat hull defined between the first side of the boat hull and the second side of the boat hull;  
       a cross-bar of adjustable length connecting the first support to the second support such that the spacing between the first support and the second support measured along a length of the boat hull is variable;  
       a tow-rope hitch attached to the top of the second support; and  
       a light located within the tow-rope hitch.  
     
     
       16. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first support is of adjustable width and the second support is of adjustable width. 
     
     
       17. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tow-rope hitch is further comprised of a core, a pivot sleeve that is rotatably attached to the core, and a cap that is attached to the top of the pivot sleeve. 
     
     
       18. The boat as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the light is located within the cap. 
     
     
       19. The boat as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the pivot sleeve comprises a translucent material. 
     
     
       20. The boat as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the cap comprises a translucent material. 
     
     
       21. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fasteners provide for the first leg and the third leg to be releasably fastened to the first side of the boat hull and the second leg and the fourth leg to be releasably attached to the second side of the boat hull. 
     
     
       22. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first support and the second support are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       23. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth legs each comprise a first member in telescoping engagement with a second member. 
     
     
       24. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the cross-bar comprises a first member connected to the first support and a second member connected to the second support, the first member and the second member being adjustably coupled. 
     
     
       25. The boat as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the first member is threadably coupled to the second member. 
     
     
       26. The boat as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the first member comprises a first clamp that is slidably attached to the first support and the second member comprises a second clamp that is slidably attached to the second support. 
     
     
       27. The boat as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first support comprises a first center section disposed intermediate the first leg and the second leg, the second support comprises a second center section disposed intermediate the third leg and the fourth leg, and a cross-link is welded to the both the first center section and the second center section. 
     
     
       28. The boat as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of quick-release clamps for use in connecting the first leg and the second leg to the first center section and the third leg and the fourth leg to the second center section.